Family History

"Ramensperg"

Coat of Arms description: The crest, the ibex issuing. In the shield an ibex sable posed on a mount vert, a bendlet gules debruising all. NOTE: This arms (without the bendlet) was orginally recorded under the name Ramensperg (Switzerland).

"Ruin broken good stone in the Danbue Valley"

(RUINS GEBROCHEN GUTENSTEIN IM DONAUTAL)
CASTLE

Broken good stone is situated in the scenic beautiful upper Danbue valley between Sigmaringen (sigma rings) and Beuron. Only a few walls remnants remain of the former castle of those from Ramsperg.

"Castle wild stone in the Danbue Valley"

(BURG WILDENSTEIN IM DONAUTAL)
The castle wild stone which is situated in the beautiful Danbue valley was built around the year 1000. The difference in height of the valley to the castle amounts to approx. 200m. In the yearbook of the monastery Beuron from the year 1077 the castle was for the first time mentioned. Acquired 1319 Count Rudolf von Ramsperg of Ramsperg the castle (which controlled the entire valley and the important roads leading to Salem). It remained up to the year 1390 in the possession of the Ramsperg. Later owners "the wild stone" were among other things the counts von Zimmern. Since 1971 the castle is used as youth hostle.

"Schlosshalde"

(CASTLE SLOPE)
The ancestral seat or home of the family is in the village of Gutentsein located in the upper Danbue valley situated today in the Baden District of Jurisdiction of Messkirch. Gutenstein was the capital of the Sovereignty of the same name to which the villages of Vilsingen, Engelswies, Altheim and Ablach belong. Originally, the Sovereignty was in the possession of the Lords von Ramsperg (brothers Hans and Marquardt von Ramsperg) who's castle on the left Danbue shore, was sitting atop the steep cliffs, opposite the village of Gutenstein. Only a few remains of walls, along with the still used name of "Schlosshalde" (Castle Slope) are reminders of the past knight's seat. At the end of the 15th century, the brothers Hans and Marquart von Ramsperg sold their Sovereignty to Baron Werner von Zimmern, who sat in the neighborhood of Wilderstein and Messkirch.

The not often heard of Ramsperger Castle

In order to get to know the manner with which the monasteries eliminated other strong landowners in it's territory we must go into the history of Castle Kappeliz whose origin traces back to the Counts Von Ramsperg, who had their family castle near Schonach. Behind the old priests farm, on the heights named Schlossbuhl the Margrave Wilhelm honored this old castle during the thinning of the forest by leaving three tall pines on the former site of the castle. It was first mentioned in 1222 as it was transferred to the possession of the monastery. The builder was Count Rudolph Von Ramsperg who lived in the middle of the twelfth century. This castle controlled the entire valley and the important roads leading to Salem. After the monks of Salem had already transacted numerour purchases and the permission for land acquisition in Ourngen, this had become a danger for this castle. The monks made their right of ownership on the heights and finally succeeded in having the Ramspergs sell the castle to them. The document of purchase made out in 1222 also carried as witnesses the names of Burkhart, Walter, Eberhard, and Konrad von Hohenfels and a knight of Ahausan. Since for the Salem monks it concerned not only the castle but the seat of the powderful family in the claimed territory of the monastery, there resulted the obligation from the Ramspergers never again to be permitted to build a castle in the region between Stockah, Deggenhausen Markdorf and the lake (?).

"Eggen"

In the saga however, the castle lives on and still today there is supposed to be an underground passage from the chapel of the castle to the next village. On the hill across the way, "Eggen" the castle of a robber knight is said to have stood. It may be that this saga is based on the traces of the ring ramparts near Sigmundshau. In any case a treasure is said to lay buried. Some have already tried to unearth but did not succeed and stayed silent. They probably saw the treasure but it disappeared before their eyes.

Background

Today the state of Baden-Württemberg is combined as one German state. However, in the period of my research, this is not so. Württemberg was a German kingdom and Baden was a Grand duchy, both in southwestern Germany. The RAMSPERGER family was from Baden. Most people in this area were Catholic, as was my family.

Anno Domini

950~1490

Familie Ramsperger

Coat of Arms description: The crest of the Ramsperger family is the crest of the Lords von Ramsperg with red diagonal (across from upper right to lower left) in the shield a black chex on a four part green mountain in a golden field.

"Jakob Friedrich Ramsperger"

Born in Gutenstein-Baden, Germany around 1490 whose father was an unmarried Von Ramsperg. Since his father, Lord Hans Von Ramsperg did not marry his mother (a commoner), he took the name RAMSPERGER. This Jakob Friedrich is the ancestral head of the Ramsperger family which is widely distributed today. His descendants were established during the years 1564-66 in Gutenstein, but a timespan of about 80 years, when absolutely nothing is being unearthed or heard from the Ramsperger family in Gutenstein. The dying out of the Barons von Zimmern, the Pawning of the Sovereignty Gutenstein to Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and the 30 year war-all these events fall within this duration of time. All archives have been obliterated, destoryed or scattered in every wind direction. Especially the war, with its numerous passings of troops, both friend and foe, across the countryside can rightly be blamed for the loss and destruction of the archives. The parish archives in Gutenstein contains no old documents. The oldest register dates from the year 1774. The church books of Gutenstein too start only with the year 1690, and these also do not provide much useful information on previous times. It could be, without doubt true, that the various Ramsperger Families, who according to the church books at the time resided in Gutenstein. Were all descendants of the ancestral father, Jakob Friedrich Ramsperger. The discovery of a Register, dealing with the Sovereignty Gutenstein, dating 1626, at the Badian General County Archives of Karlsruhe also discloses facts about the Ramsperger Family of Gutenstein. It records the first years of the 30 year war. This Register contains an index of the Serfs and Free men of Gutenstein. According to it, there were in the year 1626, in Gutenstein: Georg Ramsperger and his wife Maria Lofflerin of Engelswies, as well as their children Hans, Maria, and Anna-FREE. Christoph Ramsperger and his wife Margarete Schererin, as well as their children Hans and Maria-ARE NOT SERFS Andreas Ramsperger and his wife Waldburg Winterberigerin of Engelwies and their children Stoffl, Maria, Anna, Katharina, and Magdalena-ARE NOT SERFS. Stoffl Ramsperger and his wife Ursula Ringelmannin of Blaubeuren and their children Matheiss, Fritz, Stoffl and Anna-ARE NOT SERFS. Jakob Ramsperger and his wife Anna Schenrin of Heudorf and their children Hans, Georg, Martin, Bertl and Katharina-ARE ALL FREE. Stoffl Ramsperger and Apolonia Lacherin, as well as their children Hans, Georg, Jakob and Walburga-ARE NOT SERFS. Jakob Ramsperger, the Galler and his wife Anna Mullerin of Gutenstein, and their child Maria-ARE NOT SERFS. Josef Ramsperger and his wife Maria Bulin of Engelswies, as well as their children ? and Elisabeth-ARE ALL FREE. A further index about the body of armed Troops in Gutenstein in the same Register, dated 1626, enumerates its Musketeers: Andreas Ramsperger, Hans Ramsperger (Kickers Son), Jakob Ramsperger (Galler), Stoffl Ramsperger (the Frigg), Christian Ramsperger (Blacksmith), Georg Ramsperger, Josef Ramsperger, and Christov Ramsperger (Landlord). The circumstances of related kins to these Ramspergers among themselves, naturally, cannot be established, but we can see the scope, how descendants of the ancestral father, Jakob Friedrick Ramsperger spread out, and the fact that they were not Serfs but Free. This is probably due to their merits, which the ancestral father earned with his lord. The Register from 1687, also in the Badian General County Archives in Karlsruhe, lists for us the following members of the Family Ramsperger of Gutenstein, as Fiefdom Owners: Ferdinand Ramsperger (landlord and mayor), Jakob (before him Georg Ramsperger), Christian Ramsperger, Hans Georg Ramsperger (fisherman), Balthasar (before him Andreas Ramsperger), Jakob Ramsperger (the Knight), and Stoffl Ramsperger (landlord and baker). And now we have arrived to the years, when the church books of Gutenstein began. Eventhough the circumstances as they relate to the kins of the afore mentioned Ramspergers cannot be proven, the descendants of the ancestral father, Jakob Friedrich Ramsperger are unquestioned, when one considers the always recurring first name of Jakob.(written by Hermann Ramsperger. He is the motivator and recorder of this Family Chronicle. Sent to me by Fred Ramsperger from Canada. I will always be greatful to him.)

"The Miraculous Healing of Jacob Friedrich Ramsperger"

(DIE WUNDERHEILUNG DES JAKOB FRIEDRICH RAMSPERGER)
It came to pass that a person from Gutenstein, called Jacob Friedrich (whose father was a single/free man from Ramsperg), was badly hurt by an accident and the fracture/rupture increased so much that he gave up the hope of convalescing by means of human help. There he lay one night and looked at his ailment. So he got the idea that he could appeal to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Verena to be his faithful advocates with God the Almighty. Since a church was being built (by Baron Werner von Zimmern) at Engelwies (1516), he decided to give the best ox of his herd to help paying for the costs of building. After that he fell asleep. When he got up the next morning, nothing ailed him anymore. He was cured of his aforementioned ailment in half a miraculous way.

Even though he lived on for another 24 years, the ailment never came back and he was cured of it and completely convalesced. So he thanked first and foremost God the Almighty, then his advocates and their faithful prayers, and also the ox which he had given for his greatest matter of concern and sorrow. In the year 1525, the peasant revolt started. All peasants in the counties, held by the counts, especially those of Messkirch and Gutenstein, revolted against their Baron, Gottfried Werner von Zimmern. Jakob Friedrich Ramsperger and an old Culle Hach von Oberbeuchtongen, it is recorded, were the only men in Gutenstein, who maintained their faith. Jakob Friedrich left his wife, children, home and farm and went to his lord Wilderstein in whose garrison he remained until the unrest was over. Who's steadfast attachment and loyalty would never be forgotten by his lordship. Jakob Friedrich received a fiefdom in Gutenstein.( taken from the Chronik der Grafen von Zimmen 1564/66). During the drafting of the chronicles, in the years 1564-66, Jakob's descentants continued to reside in Gutenstein.

Ramsperger Descendants

The Family Ramsperger in Laiz too, with its many various branches originates from Jakob Friedrich Ramsperger. On September 9, 1705, Mathias Ramsperger of Engleswies was married to Anna Maria of Oberschmeien, and by doing so, tranplanted the family to Ober-Unterschmeien. He was a native of Engelswies, which, belonged to the Sovereignty of Gutenstein and without a doubt a descendant of Jakob Friedrich Ramsperger of Gutenstein. A grandson of the Mathias Ramsperger, Adam Ramsperger, born 1772 in Uterschmeien went to Laiz. There he married Elisabeth Kleiner of Vilsingen and subsequently died in 1851. From him originates the family Ramsperger in Laiz with all its various branches.

Marriage Registry of Gutenstein

Feb. 5, 1691 Johannes Ramsperger------marries Barbara Schell
Nov. 22, 1699 Franz Ramsperger--------marries Franziska Widmann
Nov. 25, 1703 Konard Ramsperger-------marries Zazilia Enderle
Jan. 28, 1704 Josef Ramsperger--------marries Elisabeth Krontaler
Apr. 7, 1704 Thomas Ramsperger--------marries Rosina Danner
Oct. 8, 1705 Johann Ramsperger--------marries Anna Maria Waibel
Feb. 8, 1710 Friedrich Ramsperger-----marries Susanna Krontaler
ship

A new beginning across the ocean:

Departure

COMPAGNIE-TRANSATLANTIQUE

The Passenger Art 1882-City of New York, Port of New York So him to God sworn to this day 9 May, 1887.
List or Manifest-OF ALL THE PASSENGERS taken on board the S.S. "La Normandie",whereof G. de Kersalice is Master, from Havre burthen 3475 51/100 tons.
NUMBER-919, NAME-John Ramsperger, AGE-23, SEX-m, PROFESSION-Labor, The Country if which they are from-Germany, INTENDED DESTINATION OR LOCATION-N. York, No. of Passengers Embarking-1, Immigrant (Castle Garden not Ellis Island)

The Remsburger Family

In 1887 Johanns Baptist Ramsperger arrived in New York City (at Castle Gardens). In 1892 John Ramsperger married Catharine Maria Bathrick in Germantown, NY. Over the years our last name started to change in spelling and pronounciation, today the name is Remsburger. Most of us are still living in the Hudson Valley (Dutchess and Columbia Counties) of New York state.

1900-Federal New York Census Index, Dutchess Co., Milan

Ramsburger, John; Relationship of each person in the head of the family: Head of House Hold; color: w; sex: m; birth: June, 1865*; age: 34; single or married: m; years: 8; born where: Germany, Germany; Year of arrival: 1887; Years here: 13; Naturalize: New York**; Occupation: farmer; Month not employed: 0; Can read: yes; Can write: yes; Can speak English: yes; Owned or rent: r; Farm or House: f; Number of farm schedule: 145.
Ramsburger, Kate; relationship: wife; color: w; sex: f; birth: Nov. 1869***; age: 30; single or married: m; years: 8; mother of children: 4; Number of living: 4; born where: New York, New York; Occupation: none; Can read: yes; Can write: yes; Can speak English: yes.
Ramsburger, John H.; relationship: son; color: w; sex: m; birth: Sept. 1893****; age 6; single or married: s; born where: Germany*****, New York; Occupation: st. school; attended school (in months): 2.
Ramsburger, Thomas J.; relationship: son; color: w; sex: m; birth: Aug. 1895******; age 4; single or married: s; born where: Germany*****, New York.
Ramsburger, Isaac; relationship: son; color: w; sex: m; birth: Aug 1897; age: 2; single or married: s; born where: Germany*****, New York.
Ramsburger, Raymond; relationship: son; color: w; sex: m; birth: May 1900; age: 0; single or married: s; born where: Germany*****, New York.(copied from the 1900 federal census)

*Granpa John's birth year was 1864 according to German records.
**Naturalize-couldn't find court records, probably just signed an oaf of alliance.
***Granma Kate's birth year was 1870.
****John H.'s birth year was 1892 (however New York State records states he was born in Clermont not Germantown).
*****German, New York is actually Germantown, Columbia Co. New York
******Isaac, I have no birth place varied.
******Thomas J. and Raymond were born in Milan, Dutchess Co., New York.
*******Thomas J.'s birth date was Oct. 1894.

State:New York~DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR-BUREAU OF THE CENSUS~SUPERVISOR'S DIRTRICT NO.:5~Sheet No.:8B
County:Dutchess~THIRTEENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES: 1910-POPULATOR~Enumeration District No.:59
Township or other District of County:Town of Pine Plains~Name of Incorporated Place:X Pine Plains Town~Ward of City:x 2901
Name of Institution:X~Enumerated By Me On The28thDay OfApril1910:William SadlerEnumerator

Location: (line 79)#211-211; Name: Ramsburger, John; Relation: head of household; Personal Description: sex-M, color-W, age-44,married, years-18; Nativity: (birth place) Dutch Germany-(birth place father) Dutch Germany-(birth place mother) Dutch Germany; Citizenship: 1887-(whether naturalized or alien) Nat; Language: English; Occupation: farmer-farm-employee; Education: read-yes, write-yes, attending school-no; Ownership of Home: own or rent-Rent, farm or home-Farm, number of farm animals-13
Name: Rambuger Cathrine M.; Relation: wife; Personal Description: sex-F, color-W, age-39, married, years-18, births-7, living-6; Nativity: (birth place) New York-(birth place father) Dutch Germany-(birth place mother) New York; Language: English; Occupation: none; Education: read-yes, write-yes, attending school-no
Name: Ramsburger Johnny H.; Relation: son; Personal Description: s-M, color-W, age-17, single; Nativity: (birth place) New York-(birth place father) Dutch Germany-(birth place mother) New York; Language: English; Occupation: none; Education: read-yes, write-yes, attending school-yes
Name: Ramsburger Thomas J.; Relation: son; Personal Description: sex-M, color-W, age 15, single; Nativity: (birth place) New York-(birth place father) Dutch Germany-(birth place mother) New York; Language: English; Occupation: none; Education: read-yes, write-yes, attending school-yes
Name: Ramsburger Isaac A.; Relation: son; Personal Description: s-M, color-W, age-15, single; Nativity: (birth place) New York-(birth place father) Dutch Germany-(birth place mother) New York; Language: English; Occupation: none; Education: read-yes, write-yes, attending school-yeas
Name: Ramsburger Edith May; Relation: daughter; Personal Description: sex-F, color-W, age-8, single; Nativity: (birth place) New York-(birth place father) Dutch Germany-(birth place mother) New York; Language: English; Occupation: none; Education: read-yes, write-yes, attending school-yes
Name: Ramsburger David M; Relation: son; Personal Description: sex-M, color-W, age 5, single; Nativity: (birth place) New York-(birth place father) Dutch Germany-(birth place mother) New York; Language: English; Occupation: none; Education: read-yes, write-yes, attending school-no
Name: Ramsburger Jennie C.; Relation: daughter; Personal Description: sex-F, color-W, age-4/12mos, single; Nativity: (birth place) New York-(birth place father) Dutch Germany-(birth place mother) New York; Language: none; Occupation: none; Education: read-no, write-no, attending school-no

John Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Isaac Allen, Raymond A., Edith May, David Martin, and Jennie Catharine
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